Joseph Smith had to wait a long time to obtain the plates containing the original text of the Book of Mormon. When the angel Moroni appeared to him on the evening of Sunday, September 21, 1823, even before showing him in a vision the place where the plates were buried, he indicated that it was... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be More Patient?
The Guide to the Scriptures defines patience as "calm endurance; the ability to endure affliction, insult, or injury without complaint or retaliation." After the four sons of King Mosiah—Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni—were converted, they felt a deep desire to share the gospel with their enemies, the Lamanites. They pleaded with their father "for many... Continue Reading →
How Can I Be More Patient with Myself?
The Book of Mormon makes it clear that patience is an attribute of Jesus Christ and that His disciples should also strive to develop that attribute. It speaks about being patient in sufferings, in tribulations, in persecutions, and in afflictions (Alma 1:25, Alma 17:11, Alma 20:29, Alma 26:27-28, Alma 31:31, Alma 34:41, Alma 60:26). Patience... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Patience?
Today, I reviewed the passages in the Book of Mormon about patience. I learned the following principles: God is patient with us. King Benjamin wanted his people to understand that God has great power and wisdom, but that He is patient with us (Mosiah 4:6). Alma taught the people of Ammonihah that Jesus Christ is... Continue Reading →
What Should I Do When My Prayers Aren’t Answered?
After preaching the gospel, baptizing hundreds of people, and organizing the church in the land of Mormon, the prophet Alma led his people into the wilderness. They traveled for eight days, arriving at a beautiful place where they decided to settle (Mosiah 23:1-4). However, they soon fell into captivity, forced to labor under the supervision... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be “Long-Suffering?”
The word "longsuffering" (without a hyphen) appears 17 times in the King James Version of the Bible. The word "long-suffering" (with a hyphen: the modern spelling of the word) appears 17 times in the Book of Mormon. What does it mean? In the Old Testament, it is a translation of the phrase erek appayim (אֶ֥רֶךְ... Continue Reading →
What Is the Relationship Between Faith and Patience?
After the Lord warned Alma that the armies of King Noah were preparing to attack his people, he led them into the wilderness for 8 days, and they began to establish a new city (Mosiah 23:1-5). They were unified and diligent, and Mormon tells us that they "began to prosper exceedingly in the land." But... Continue Reading →
In an Acceptable Time – 1 Nephi 21:8
8 Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;... Continue Reading →
So Great Was Their Faith and Their Patience… – Mosiah 24:16-17
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage. 17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I... Continue Reading →
